Senate President Steve Sweeney today announced the selection of the Senate Democratic Leadership Team for the new legislative session that begins in January. The team of leaders will be presented to the members of the Senate Democratic Majority for their approval after the November election, Senator Sweeney said.

Senator M. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) has been selected to serve as Senate Majority Leader. The current Majority Leader, Senator Loretta Weinberg, is retiring after serving in the post for 10 years. Senator Ruiz has been serving as Senate President Pro Tempore since 2018 and was Assistant Majority Leader from 2010 to 2017.

Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland), first elected Senate President in 2010, will serve his seventh two-year term as New Jersey’s second-highest elected official if he is selected again by his Senate colleagues. Senator Sweeney is the longest-serving Senate President in New Jersey history.

“This is a diverse team of talented leaders who are dedicated to public service and determined to work together to address the needs of the people of New Jersey,” said Senator Sweeney. “I am proud to serve with them and grateful for their teamwork as leaders of the Senate.

“I want to thank Senator Weinberg for a distinguished career of accomplishments and for her decade-long partnership,” said Senator Sweeney. “I welcome Senator Ruiz as the new Majority Leader. She possesses the experience, the skills and the passion to excel as a leader of the Senate Majority. We face real challenges ahead, but I am confident in the abilities of this leadership team to move the state forward.”

The other members selected for leadership are: Senator Sandra Cunningham (D-Hudson) as Senate President Pro Tempore; Senator Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen/Passaic) as Deputy Majority Leader; Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset) as Senate Majority Whip, and Senator Nellie Pou (D-Bergen/Passaic) as Senate Majority Caucus Chair, responsible for the development of the caucus agenda and policies for the Democratic Majority.

The members of the Senate Democratic Majority, including the newly-elected Democrats, will meet on November 4th to vote on the entire leadership team. The full Senate will officially vote for Senate President and Majority Leader on January 11, 2022, when the Legislature convenes the new 2022 legislative session.